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ELKINS -- West Virginia's two senators recently secured $2.2 million in federal funding for the renovation and expansion of the Elkins-Randolph County Library, which has been closed for more than two years.
The funding is part of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration funding bill.
"Congressional earmarks came out through (Sen. Joe) Manchin's and (Sen. Shelley Moore) Capito's offices a few months ago and we applied to both offices," Ben Shaffer, treasurer for the ERCPL Board of Trustees, told The Inter-Mountain Wednesday.
"We put the applications in and they were approved through their offices. It then eventually made it through everything else, so it will come up on the appropriations bill whenever Congress passes the budget."
Once the funding is received, it will go toward the library's renovation and expansion project, which officials have projected will cost between $3.5 to $4 million.
"We hope they pass the budget before the end of the calendar year," Shaffer said. "We have received some money from prior donations and everything, but we think once the money comes in, it would put the project up to 75 percent funded."
The library, located on Davis Avenue, has been closed since December 2021, due to water damage caused by problems with the facility's roof. Repairs to the library were scheduled to be done during the 2021 Christmas break, while employees were out of the building. Upon their return to the facility, however, it was discovered that the roof had leaked, causing extensive damage to the facility.
Rather than going forward with the original plan of making repairs and doing slight renovations to the library, officials decided to do a complete overhaul of the building.
The library chose the Mills Group for the architectural planning of the project, which will include a first-floor remodel and an entire second-story addition. A new facade, atrium and elevator are among the other features included in the new plan.
"Obviously, with this commitment from Manchin and Capito, we will be in pretty good standing financially," Shaffer said. "It allows us to continue to work on the planned development. It's a huge step in the right direction for the project and we appreciated the work of both of our U.S. senators."
Shaffer said he hopes the funding will be budgeted in sooner than later and feels that it will likely be done within the next three months.
"We are continuing to work on additional private donors and capital gifts in the meantime," Shaffer said. "Our understanding is that getting the funding is just a matter of them passing the budget."
Due to some restrictions, the money can't be used for reimbursement, so the ERCPL will have to wait until the funding is received before they can actually begin working on the project.
"I know the library issue keeps dragging on, and I know people continually want to know what is happening, or if we are ever going to do anything," Shaffer said. "I understand their frustration but this is quite a process.
"There are just so many steps you have to take to raise $4 million. But we have to hold off on any construction until we have the money in hand."
A temporary library site has been open at 209 Randolph Avenue since May 2022. The Davis Avenue location, however, is holding a "Summer Saturday Youth Book Sale" on Saturdays through the month of August from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The money taken in from the book sale will go toward library programming events. Capital campaign donations can be made during the book sale events as well. Library patrons can also visit the library's other branch at the Beverly Heritage Center. For more information, call 304-637-0287.